Ironing machine



Dec. 14,1926. 1,610,293

' J. FLAMB IRONING Mmmmm l Filed Dec. 30, 1922 l s sheets-sheet 1' i". I Y' 73 2L/0V' If f6 W r\\v 5 @4 ff A zo Dec. 14, 1926. 1,610,293

J. F. LAMB IRON'ING MACHINE.

med nac. so, '1922 s sheets-sheet' a wuento' i Patented Dec. 19326. l

UNITED STATES A 1,610,293 IPara.:NT OFFICE.:

JOSEPH It LAMB, or NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNoP. To LANnERs, IRARY a CLARK, A CORPORATION or CoNNEcTICpT.

VIRONING MACTIINE. a

Application tiled December 30, 1922. Serial No. 609,992

This invention relates to ironing machines.

It is .the principal object of the invention to provide an eicient ironing machine that is simplein its construction and operation;

that is economical to manufacture; and thatis particularly suitable for household use.

With this'general object in view the in- 'vention consists in the combinations, details of construction and arrangements of parts which will first be described in connection withxthe accompanying drawings'an'd then moreifparticularly" pointed out.

In/the dr.awings,

Fig. 1 is a v1ew in end elevation, withv parts broken away and parts in vertical section, of an ironing machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same with parts broken away and removed;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken onthe broken Iline 6--6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the machine issupported by a frame of any suitable construction. -As here shown as an example, the frame comprises two end A pieces 10 above which are side frame pieces 11. The A pieces 10 and the side frameV pieces 11 are connected by a number of tie rods 12. In the present embodiment, journalled -in bearings in the'frame is a shaft 13 and mounted -in this shaft is a work-supporting roll 14. As here illustrated, the roll is padded by one or more windings of cloth or thel like.

There is provided ironing means for cooperating with the work-supporting roll, i such, for example, as an ironing shoe. Al.-

though capable of various constructions, in

the exemplilication shown, there' is provided an ironing shoe comprising a concave ironing plate 17, curved to correspond to the curvature of the rolls, a back plate 18, and end piecesv 19, arranged to enclose a heating chamber 20. This shoe is mounted, as hereinafter described, to have normally a generally vertical position at'the backof the roll (see Fig. 1) and the ironing plate .terminates ina curved lip 21 which aidsl in guiding the articles fed by the roll.

Flg. 3 issa cross sectional view taken on -ward the roll to effect thepdesired pressure.

Although capable .of various constructions, in the embodiment illustrated, the shoe is carried by a frame mounted to reciprocate4 in the mainframe and comprising .end 05 brackets 22 with which the shoe is connected as hereinafter4 described. The brackets 22 are pivotally mounted on eccentric pins 23 carried by bosses 24 on the frame ends 1], ,these pivotal pins being located a considerable distance below the roll so that the shoe, in1 its movement toward the roll has substantially a right line movement.

This movement of the shoe' toward the roll may be effected -in various ways, for ex- 7.5 ample, by mechanism including a foot vtreadle and a toggle action. Although capaf.

ble of various constructions, in the present embodiment, vextending across the front of the machine is a foot treadle 25 supported 80 on arms 26 hung from a cross bar or tie` rod 27. vFulcrumed on this tie rod 27 and connected with the treadle is a two armed lever 28, its opposite arm being lpivotally connected with a link orpush rod 29. This push rod is secured to a yoke A30 pivotally associated by a pin 3l with a toggle mechanism. As ere shown, this toggle con1' prises a yoked member 32 having a hub 33 mounted on a cross rod 34 carried by the 90 frame.- Also vforming part of the toggleVY is a link 35 mounted on the pin 31, its other end being pivotallyconnected by pin 36 with a yoked rocker arm 37. This rocker arm is securedvto a rock shaft 38 journalled 95' in the frame. Also mounted on the rock shaft 38, near the ends thereof,l are two yoked levers 39.' To provide a yieldable` operating connection between-each lever 39 and theshoe, as here illustrated as anl ex- 10U. ample, pivoted within the -yokes `of levers 39 areheads 40 through which pass bolts 41. These bolts are threaded into heads 42 mounted' on. a part of the sho-e unit. In

the present embodiment, they are mounted to, and is supported in the brackets 22, thus Bolt heads hold the bolts in normal position in the heads. The shoe unit will thus be moved from the full line position of Fig. 1 to some such position as that shown in dotted lines, the extent of shoe movement toward the roll depending on the pressure de\ sired and the thicknessof goods to be ironed and bei-ng controlled by the treadle. v

Means is provided for tending to sepaf. rate the shoe from the roll. A While this may be accomplished byl various constructions, as

here shown as an exa'mple, a coil spring 46 is connected at one end to the pivot pin 36 and at the other end to a frame brace 47. With this construction, operation of the toggle in moving the shoe towardthe roll distends the spring and the spring thus tends to break the toggle and hold the shoe in open or released position.

The invention includes means Jfor locking the shoe in a lurality of pressing positions and this mayv e accomplished, for example,

- by a dog andlratchet mechanism. Although capable of various construct-ions, in that here illustrated, integral with the hub of the toggle member 32 is-a toothed sector 48 formwith the ratchet ing a ratchet. Gooperatin on a" rock shaft teeth is a dog .49 mounte journalled in the frame, the dog being held to its duty as later described. As the toggle member 32v swings upwardly the P ratchet 48 swings downwardly, retrograde `movement being prevented by the engagement of the ratchet teeth with the dog. .Wlth this construction theshoe is locked inthe various positions to which it may be moved vsoA and the operatoris -relieved of the necessity of holding the treadle depressed to maintain ironing pressure.

The vinvention in `its entirety -includes means for releasing the locking means to permit the shoe to withdraw under theforce of its'v return spring and in structures embodying the invention to the best advantage the releasing means is manually operable and may include a release lever accessible above the work table. Although capable of various constructions, in the present embodiment, mounted on the rock shaft 50, near the right hand endl of the machine, is a rocker arm l 51 pivotally connectedto a link 52 which,

in turn, is pivoted `to a bell crank ever 53 pinned to the frame. The free arm of this bell crank extends thrppgh a`slot154 in a the,brackets'22 and work table 55 supported on they frame, and

terminates in a handle 56.- To hold the parts in normal-position with the dog 49 held to its duty, a spring 57 connects the bell crank 53 with the frame.'

With thel construction described, the shoe may be easily and substantially instantaneously released from the roll. `Operation of thehandle 56, which is readily Iaccessible above -the Work` table where the operators ing the under side of the dog as shown 1n Fig, 1.

The mvention 1n its ent'ret includes the provislon ot' manually opera le means for releasing the locking means, accessible at each .end of'the ywork table. 'ThisI may be accomplished, for example, in connection with the releaselever 56 already described,

by a second release lever at the left .end of' the machine, this second release lever being accessible to an operatoneither at the front` or end of the machine. Although capable of various constructions, as here shown as an example, mounted von thel rock shaft 50 near the left end of the machine is a rocker'arm 59 pivoted to a link 60, in turn pivoted -to a hand lever 61 which is pinned to the frame just below the.y work table and extends forward beyond the edge thereof. With this onstruction, the locking 'dog may be released Y working either at the front of the machine or at the left end.

The invention lin its entirety includes a ivotal mounting for the ironing shoe, lwhereby the shoe may be swung away from a hand lever accessible to an' operator` the roll to expose-its concave ironing surface,

and in structures embo ying the invention to the best advantage-the pivotal mounting includes a heating conduit. Although cavpable as an example, each end piece 19 of the shoe is formed with a boss 62 through which exf various constructions, as here shown llO tends the heating conduit 43 before referred extend into housings 68.

66. These pins are'slidablek in bosses 67 on Within the housing are springs 69 for nor'- mally forcing the pins 66 outwardlyto hold them in latching position in the shoe Socke ets.- On the ends of the pins are knobs .or handles 7 0 by which the pins may be withdrawn when it is desired to open the shoe for cleaning or the like. l

With the construction described. the shoe can be swung from the normal vertical psition of Fig. 1 to the horizontal position of Fig. 3 and in the latter position the concave ironing plate 17 is readily and wholly accessible for cleaning or the like. A shoulder 71 on each bracket serves as a stop and support for the' shoe in this open position. It is noted also that this movement of the shoe` interferes .in no.v way with the heat supply system. Furthermore, the pipe 43 andthe pins 66 'constitute a.`.twopoint connection' between each end -of the shoe and the lcor'- responding bracket 'so' that brackets and shoe form a firm and solid unitJ for the nor'- mal pressing and release movement of the shoe.

As shown in the presentembodiment, 'the faces of bosses 67 are corrugated as indicated at 72, thus reducing the loss of heat from the shoe by conduction.

There is provided means for rotating the work-supporting roll with varying speed so that different speeds may be obtained in accordance with variation in vshoe pressure.' vAlthough lcapable of various constructions, as here illustrated as anv example, the shaft,

- 134 extends beyond the right hand frame bearing, as shown in Fig. 4, and enters a gear housing 81 carried by the frame. Keyed to shaft 13 and slidable thereon, is

a clutch member 82 having clutch'pins 83 pins 83 are sockets 84 formed in. gears v8.5-

' bodiment, lis shifted by means of a yoke 97 on each face. Cooperating with4 these clutch and 86 journalled on the shaft 13. Gears 85. 86 mesh, respectively, with pinions 87,'v

88 keyed to a counter shaft89.4 -Also keyed to counter shaft 89 is a gear 90 meshin with apinion 91 rotating with a sleeve 92, which 'is driven by a worm gear 93 mesh-'ing with a worm'94 on a power shaft 95. This power shaft may be driven in. any suitable manner, as by an electric motor 96 carried by the frame.

The clutch member 82 in the present emconnected thereto, the yoke being operated by a rock shaft '98 to which is secured av controller handle 99 located on top of the transmission housing. The controller handle'is .releasably held in neutral position by means of a spring pressed ball vl00,.which engagesv a .corresponding socket in the top of the gear housing. 1

With-the construction described, while the motor is running the gears 85, 86 aref; ro-

tating. When the controller handle is. in

central or neutral position, the clutcliA meming shaft 13 and the roll.

ber is between the gears 85, 86 and idle.

When the controller is moved to right or left the clutch engages one or the other of gears 85, 86 and is driven thereby, thus driv- It will be seen that thegcaring referred to is designed to give two different speeds for the shaft 13, so that the speed may be varied, if desired, with variations in ironing pressure.l i'

The ironing slioe may be heated in various Ways. In the present embodiment the heating conduit 43 is a gas pipe provided with burnerv openings 101 at'intervals along thc pipe. At one end of the pipe there is pro-A ided an air and gas mixing device 102 of any suitable construction, and adapted foi connection with a'sour'ce of gas. The back plate 18 of the shoe is .provided with bottoni air openings 103 and top air openings 104. Above the latter, in the present embodiment, are reflectors 105 arranged, as more clearly appears in Fig'. 1, to direct the heated airy from the shoe backwards andso away froml the operator.

There 1s provided a removable work re- '.Ceiving table arranged tobe readily posi- 1. In an' ironing machine, in combination, I' I a frame, a work-supporting roll, an ironing lVith this construction the table is held in shoe having a concave surface for cooperat- Y ing with saidroll, a bracket at each .end of the shoe-movably mounted in the fram-e, the

shoe being pivotally movable with respect to the brackets, a heating conduit about Which'the shoe`pivots, and means for releasably latching the shoe to said brackets to form' a unit therewith. 2. In an ironing machine, in combination, a frame, a work-supporting roll, an ironing shoe having a concave surface for cooperating with said roll, a bracket at each end of the shoe pivoted to' the frame, the shoe being pivotally movable with respect to the .brackets,'a pin on each of said brackets, and

socketsin the shoe for receiving said pins., whereby the shoe may be latched to the brackets to move. therewith and released from the'bracketsto' swing on its piyot.y '1

3. Inail ironing machine, in combination,

a worksupporting roll, an ironing shoe 'coloperating therewith, means for supplying heat to the shoe, a frame, a bracket movably` mounted in said frame, a pivotal mounting 'for the shoe whereby the shoe may swing Awithv respect to said bracket, a latching-pin carried by the bracket, a socket in j on the bracket, through which said pin prol `aid in insulating the shoe for receiving said pin, and a boss j normally extending alongside the ends of the shoe, a frame, pivot pins' associated with 'the frame below the shoe for pivotally mounting the bracketarms in the frame, a pivot elementvassociated with said brackets and on Which the shoe is pivotally mounted,

- and means for latching the ends of the shoe to said bracket arms.v

5. In an ironing maohlne, and 1n combination, two cooperating lronlng elements,

a foot treadle, a push rod operate-d thereby,4 X

gle mechanism, a connection between the toggle mechanism and one of said ironing elements for moving the latter upon yopera- ;tion of the toggle, a spring tending to break the toggle, and releasable locking means including a dog cooperating with said toothed sector. l

6. In an ironing machine, and in combination, two-cooperating` ironing elements, a foot treadle, push rod operatedthereby, a toggle/mechanism operated by said push rod and having one member provided with a pivotally 'mounted hub, a connection between the other toggle member and one-of .said ironing elements', a spring .tending to break the toggle, a toothed segment con.-

nocted with said hub, vand releasable lockingl means including a dog cooperating with said toothed sector.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set ymy hand.

JOSEPH F. LAMB. 

